Friday, April 28, 2017

Today we learn what are God's feasts to Israel. These feasts are commemoratives so they first require mercy.

1. Easter, 1st month, 15th day, holy convocation (1-22)

We work during 6 days, but the 7th is the Sabbath, the day of the holy convocation. Its sense is to commemorate God's creation. Apart from that, there are annual solemnities based on Israel's history. First,_ Easter is the feast which commemorates the Exodus. There is also the harvest_ feast when we dedicate a wreath and a lamb one year old as a burnt offering. After 7 weeks we bring the premise with 7flawless lambs each one year old as burnt offerings. It's the Pentecost, as in the Christian's calendar. We leave a corner of the field for the indigents.

2. The Huts feast, 7th month, 15th day, holy convocation (23-44)

It's the feast of the Jewish new year, which begins with the launch of the clamor. The tenth day is the day of the atonement. The heart must be humbled as a solemn condition (28, 29, 32). It's a very happy feast after the harvest (40b). During each defined time we bring burnt offerings, offerings, sacrifices and libation (37). During seven days, we live under huts, remembering how God fed and made the ancestors live in the desert without missing anything. At this feast, Jesus went to Jerusalem to invite the pilgrims to experience the rivers of water which flow from their heart. If we humble ourselves, the Holy Spirit fills the heart.

Prayer: Lord, make me feast your sabbaths with joy and dignity of heart, Above all humble me so that I remember enough the mercy of your salvation and your forgiveness.

Today, we learn about new moral codes and prerequisites concerning priests and offerings. We must consecrate ourselves in regarding the Lord as consecrated, just as he had consecrated his people who obeyed him.

1. You will turn away from idols (20)

God warned Moses that those who worshipped Molech would be punished by death, they and those who supported them. The same for wizards and mediums. Cursing parents, adultery, incest, homosexuality, bestiality, whatever the difference in degree (burning, childlessness), will be punished, for it is infamy, horror and confusion. The land vomits these things and God is disgusted by them.

2. The priests will not make themselves unclean (21)

Contact with a dead body makes one ritually unclean. Except for their close relatives, priests must not touch the dead. Their holiness is necessary because they offer sacrifices to God, who is thrice holy, and on their heads is poured the anointing oil. In their private life and in their mariage, they must be without fault. Their physical appearance as well. Here, we must see things from God's point of view and not from man's.

3. Abstain from consuming offerings (23)

The guests invited to the meal must be clean. Touching the dead or eating a torn animal will make one unclean. Foreigners may not eat, though bought slaves may eat, and this is by grace. If unclean priests eat, they bring the fault on the people. The offerings must be without blemish, like the priests, and this must, as usual, be understood from God's point of view.

Thursday, April 27, 2017

Today's word speaks about the illicit relationships and the moral principles that we must respect when we are God's people.

1. Don't soil yourself (18)

God says many times to Moses: I am the Eternal God, your God. which means that He is a holy God different from the other idols, the only true God who is worthy of receiving all our worship. First, idolatry is a grave sin before this unique God (21). Then, the horrible pagan practices displease God. God warns them that they will not follow theses practices: incest, homosexuality, zoophilia, etc. There are infamies, horrors and confusions. These practices soil the body and the soul of those who indulge in them. So the country will vomit the inhabitants because of these improper practices. They will be entrenched from the people to not have a bad influence.

2. You will be holy because I am holy (19)

The verse 2 of chapter 19 is the key verse of Leviticus. God wants his people to live a holy life. Morality plays an important role in a holy life. The identity of the believer is useless if he doesn't avoid the bad practices. He must resist idolatry (4). He must consume the sacrificed meat after the third day. He must be generous in the harvest, he must be just in the judgment, take care of the disabled persons, keep the uniqueness of the species, and finally he must love his neighbour as himself. He must atone for the sexual relationship with a not freed slave through the sacrifice of guilt. He must eat the fruits in the fifth year of harvest. He must resist prostitution, summoning spirits and exploiting immigrants, because they are his neighbours. He must keep the Sabbath and the sanctuary. He must respect the old man. Thus they become holy as God is holy.

Prayer: Lord, make me a holy people to worship you only and follow your laws and your prescriptions.

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

Today's word speaks about the people's place of sacrifice. It also explains the meaning of blood and the consumption of the offering.

1. It is always at the entrance to the tent, before the Lord God, that this is done (1-9)

God indicates the place where people offer sacrifices, so that they do not perform the ceremony in their own way. If anyone kills an animal in the field and does not bring it to the altar, he will be cut off from his people. Blood that is spilled yet not offered is considered a killing and this blood must be accounted for. Sprinkling blood on the altar approves an offering. People who make sacrifices to idols (7) will be cut off.

2. You will not eat blood (10-16)

Blood contains life, and it is used to atone for sin. This is the only use for blood that God permits. Those who eat or drink blood will be cut off from the people. This precept existed even before the encounter on Mount Sinai, since God had already spoken after the Flood. He softened his decree by permitting men to eat meat, but without blood, since it represents life. In God's eyes, a man's life is extremely important. This prohibition is repeated several times in this passage (4, 10, 11, 12, 14). Those who eat the flesh of animals torn by beasts will be impure until evening, after having washed their clothes.

Prayer: Lord, help me to have pious fear for life. Grant me to see correctly and pray for the souls you created. Make me aware of how I consume.

Monday, April 24, 2017

After having spoken about the purity of the people (consumption, sexuality, leprosy concerning the clothes and the houses), God for a long time speaks about the holiness in this second and final part of Leviticus (the high priest, the place, the moral life, the ceremonies, the sentences, the choice of victims, the feasts, the utensils, the years, the vows, etc).

1. This is how he will enter in the sanctuary (1-28)

God absolutely wanted to keep his community in holiness. All places and all objects are concerned. The high priest must carefully observe these rules so that the purification of the temple is perfect and accomplished. Aaron must overcome his feelings to proceed. He must bring the young bull for his own atonement. He will make this atonement in the blaze and with the perfume, then with the sprinkling of blood. He will go out to continue the office of atonement with one of the two goats brought by the people. One will be offered to the Eternal God and the other will be as Azaziel, which will be chased in the desert. God's will to keep his people in holiness is absolute, so the man who chases the goat must wash before entering in camp.

2. A perpetual prescription (29-34)

This ceremony is annual, Aaron will not enter at any time. It's a holy place forbidden to mankind. Aaron will enter once a year (29). He must bring the offerings which are fully conformed to God's request. But above all, the heart must be pleasing to God, humbled enough before Him (29b, 31). The man who is anointed and inherits from father to son, can officer this ceremony of atonement, so that the people are forgiven from all their sins. It's a perpetual ceremony because it was received on Mount Sinai.

Prayer: Lord, make me holy, because you are holy, making me understand your tireless interest for me.

Saturday, April 22, 2017

Chapter 13, verses 1-46 tell us how to cleanse leprosy. Verses 47-59 talk about leprosy in garments. A man struck by leprosy is sent out of the camp (14:3) until his case of disease is healed. If the verdict is not favorable, the sick person must stay outside the camp until fully healed. Thus, healing is hoped for, though no specific treatment is mentioned.

2. Purifying and restoring people with leprosy (14)

In verses 1-32, purification is pinpointed. A man must be completely shaved (Numbers 8:7). Hyssop is used, like at Passover (Ex.12:22). The leprous person is described as "unclean" and not "sinner". Yet, it seems right to perceive in this sickness the incorrigible sin of man, cause and source of all afflictions and evils from which humanity suffers. If death is divine retribution for sin, sickness which leads to death carries a certain filth. Perhaps David considered himself morally leprous when he said, "Purge me with hyssop and I will be clean" (Psalm 51). In verses 33-57, the future houses in Canaan are struck with leprosy because of the builder's sin (34). Like the garments, there should be minimal destruction.

3. Uncleanness from bodily discharges (15)

This section addresses questions on sex. Blood flow from gonorrhea or menstral impurity makes a person impure, as well as objects he touches or any sexual intercourse. Everything must be washed and left for seven days in its impurity. The reason for these details is noted in 15:31.

Friday, April 21, 2017

This chapter speaks about the women who have given birth. They must carefully follow the rules of purification.

1. The rule about the number of days to the purification of the pregnant women who have given birth (1-5)

When a woman becomes pregnant and delivers a boy, she is impure during 7 days, at which point the boy will be circumcised. After the delivery, during 33 days, the woman will be impure again, so her active life will be limited. When the child is a girl, the number of days will be doubled. This law didn't exist at the time of Abraham. God gave the promise in Gn 17 to the circumcision of the boys. Abraham and his sons obeyed it. The promulgation of this double number of days isn't because the woman is the origin of the fall, but because the man is the protagonist of Abraham's promise, which rather shortens the number of days. The man purifiess himself by circumcision, taking off his foreskin. The husband participates, by the rituals of his possessions, in the purificatio of his wife.

2. The ceremony of purification (6-8)

When the purification is finished, Mary, Jesus' mother, brought two pigeons to offer God. Here, the delivered woman brings a one-year-old lamb to the holocaust, and a pigeon or a turtledove for sin. When we are indigent, we can bring two birds to offer God, one for the holocaust and the other for the expiation. God is merciful, so that everyone has a way to move towards God. God opens the way, when a person has the will to be forgiven.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for opening a way so that everyone can be forgiven and above all purified of our original sin.

Thursday, April 20, 2017

Chapters 11 through 15 include laws on purity. God already told Aaron not to drink wine or liquor, so that he could discern what is holy and pure or not (10:10). Jesus said that it is not what enters and exits a body which makes it impure, but rather what comes out of a man's heart. Yet, through this list of food, we glimpse what is God's will for his people.

1. Clean and unclean animals (1-8)

Whatever parts the hoof, is cloven-footed and chews the cud is clean. But those that part the hoof yet do not chew the cud, such as the pig, are unclean, and those that chew the cud yet do not part the hoof, like the camel, are unclean.

2. Clean and unclean fish and birds (9-23)

Those with fins and scales are clean and eatable. Animals without these are unclean. Winged beasts that go on all fours are unclean. Those that have jointed legs above their feet, like the locust, are clean.

3. Laws concerning clean and unclean animals (24-47)

God doesn't describe what happens after eating unclean animals. However, if by necessity, one has to carry a carcass, one becomes unclean by touching it. That person must wash his clothes and is unclean until evening. It is the same for objects. A vessel must be broken. Food with water becomes unclean, though the water cistern remains clean in spite of contact with a carcass. Verses 44-45 indicate the divine will behind these laws: God wants to consecrate his people according to his own holy image.

Wednesday, April 19, 2017

The word speaks about the condemnation of Aaron's two sons, which has an important meaning for us the servants of God.

1 The fire consumes Aaron's two sons (10:1-3)

Aaron's two sons, Nadab and Abihou, bring a strange fire. God judges them and makes them die. Moses solves the problem with God's word. God says two things: he will be sanctified by the worshipper, and he will be glorified by their example among the people. Aaron keeps silent. His nephews do the funeral by default outside the camp.

2. The service continues (10:4-20)

In spite of this event Aaron and his two other sons may not mourn the death of their two brothers and sons. It's the attitude that God's servants must have, because the inviolable divinity prevails over the humanity. God says to Aaron to forbear from alcohol, to have discernement and teach the people. They must eat the rest of the sacrifice consumed by the fire, which may be painful for them because of the death of their relatives. But the servants must renounce their feelings to execute the order of the Eternal God. The high priests must eat the breast and the thigh in a holy place. They must eat the holy part of the goat. When Moses sees that they didn't eat it, he reproaches them. They must eat it because they are the bearers of the guilt of the people. When Aaron talks about his feeling, Moses approves his word, and certainly also God. God doesn't fully neglect the feeling of mankind, even though the people must respect the inviolable holiness.

Prayer: Lord, make me renounce myself and execute your service before the assembly so that only You be glorified.

Tuesday, April 18, 2017

Though Aaron's dedication is spoken by Moses, he instructs Aaron and his sons so that they fulfill their function for the people.

1. The glory of God appears (1-6)

Moses calles Aaron and his sons to offer sacrifices for their sins (2,8,12). Then, he instructs concerning the people. Aaron tells the people to bring their sacrifices and gather together. There will be a burnt offering for sin, a peace offering and an offering of finest flour (2,3). This tells us a lot about the order of the rituel, which seem logical: it sheds light on three fundamental aspects: 1) atonement for sins, 2) life consecration, 3) communion with God in the eucharistic meal. Thus, Moses says to those assembled that the glory of God will appear. Truly, at the entrance to the tent, God appears and manifests his glory as a sign of approval and ratification of all that was accomplished (see also Ex. 20:34).

2. The offerings of Aaron and his sons (7-24)

Aaron and his sons collaborate to offer sacrifices to God, the sons' role being primarily for handing the blood. First, Aaron gives the burnt sin offering which atones for his and the people's sin. After that, he offers an oblation for the people and perfoms the atonement for them. He offers the calf for his own sin (8-14). The oblation of the people is composed of: a goat for sin and an ox and ram for the peace offering. After the sacrifices are offered, Aaron blesses the people. Both Moses and Aaron enter the tent, come back out and bless the people. A consuming fire falls and the joy of the people is followed by pious fear.

Prayer: Lord, make me fulfill your order with your assembly, so that we may see your glory appear.

Friday, April 14, 2017

This text speaks about the provisions of the sacrifices for sin and guilt.

1. The provision of the sacrifice for sin (6:17-23)

For the sin sacrifice we must strangle in the same place of the holocausts and we can consume it except the memorial's part. The high priest who offers it must eat it in the forecourt of the temple and all the males among the high priests will eat it. Here, the holy nature of the victim is stressed, it is very holy. It's a very holy thing and all that which touches it must be or become holy, even the vase of pottery for cooking. Again, if it's an animal for the high priest it will not be eaten (23).

2. The provision of the sacrifice for guilt (7:1-10)

For the guilt sacrifice we must strangle it in the same place of the sin sacrifice, that means in the entrance of the Encounter's tent. All the grease and the carefully washed entrails will be burnt by the fire. The law is the same for the sin sacrifice and the guilty sacrifice. We notice that the portion of the high priest is the same as for the sin sacrifice. All is given to the high priest except the Eternal God's portion. The finest part of the flour offering is that which accompanied this animal sacrifice.

Prayer: Lord, you are the Lamb of God who spread your blood for my sins and all my guilt. Henceforth make me live with honesty and purity, by your strength.

Thursday, April 13, 2017

So far now the text speaks about the sacrifices concerning the relationship with God. Now it speaks about the sacrifices among humans.

1. The holocausts (1-6)

The holocaust is a perpetual sacrifice and it's fully burnt, so only the problem of the ashes' destination and the maintenance of the fire remain. The fire must never burn out. Anyway it's God Himself who lights the fire. The holocaust must be continually burnt (even all the night) as the people's consecration for God.

2. The finest part of the flour offering (7-11)

Except the memorial, all the offering belongs to the high priest's officer. It's a very holy part, with the sacrifices for sin and guilt, it will be eaten by the holy high priests. Ch 7:20 says that the laymen can eat when they are pure. Only men eat it.

3. The offering outside of the finest part of the flour offering (12-16)

The text briefly speaks about the finest part of flour offered by the high priests for themselves. It's the perpetual offering, a part in the morning and the other part in the evening. It's a kind of counterparty of the continual holocaust. Because it is offered for the high priests, it will not be ate by them; it will be fully consumed.

Prayer: Lord, help me to fully offer my life for you, constantly in my life as a holocaust. Make me holy, as the high priest who eats the offering.

Monday, April 10, 2017

The sacrifice of communion also is called sacrifice of thanksgiving. Ch 7:11-34 precisely explains the part of the high priest, the part of those who offer the sacrifice, and how the flesh is consumed.

1. A consumed sacrifice with a pleasant smell for the Eternal God (1-15)

The livestock animals can be either male or female, but it must be without defect. It's important to put the hand and cut the throat of the animal, in the entrance of the Tent. It's necessary to spread out the blood in the circumference of the altar. The difference with the holocausts is that only a part will be burnt. This part is formed with fat and the kidney which covers the flank and the membrane which covers the liver. This also applies to the sin's sacrifice (or expiation's sacrifice). A pleasant smell to the Eternal God emanates from the burn of this part. The same thing is practiced for the small livestock. The instance of the goat and the lamb are precised. The feature of the lamb is the fluffy greasy tail offered in the fire. So it's regarded as luxurious.

2. A food with a pleasant smell (16-17)

This part of the animal's body has an obvious reason: it's the Eternal God's food. All fat belongs to the Eternal God. That's why, in the solemn injunction about the prohibition to consume, the grease is added to blood, which only is prohibited according to Dt 12:15. The word of communion's sacrifice explains that the worshipper is reconcilied with God. Otherwse, he is not allowed to eat the flesh of his offering. The case of the bird isn't added because this rite of thanksgiving's sacrifice is a meal intended for the worshipper, his family and his friends, so a bird is not sufficient for this meal. The indigents are invited to the rich people's sacrifice.

Prayer: Lord, make me bring my offering of communion with thanksgiving. Because you saved me from my numerous sins.

Friday, April 7, 2017

LEVITICUSThrough the study of Leviticus, we can learn the true worship demanded by God from the people of Israel. Some theologians say that it derives from the cults of the neighbors because of some points of resemblance. But this is not the case. The general declaration of 18: 3,4 "You shall not do what is done in the land of Egypt." is followed by many examples of pagan practices which the Israelites must absolutely distance themselves because they are the" abominations". The religion of Sinai is monotheistic, spiritual; It has a moral character, while the neighboring cults are polytheistic, idolatrous, and often extremely immoral. Leviticus emphasizes the difference between these two systems. The religion of Israel is unique and distinct from all others. The resemblances are secondary, but they can be misleading, if we do not keep in mind the fundamental differences, for example the bread of proposition. Through this study - we pray - we can come to reform our worship. So the purpose of this book is to lay down the laws and principles that will govern Israel's conduct as God's people. His God is a holy God: therefore the people must also be holy. "Be holy, for I the LORD your God are holy" (19: 2). "They stand before the Lord" comes about 60 times, which means that they must separate themselves from impurity, from sin, and since the people are sinners, they must necessarily have the atonement and the purification of sin and of all impurity. This is why the law of sacrifice appears at the beginning of the book.

Friday April 7th 2017

key verse: 2

THE HOLOCAUSTS

The author of this third book of the Pentateuch, Moses, speaks about the priesthood and offering systems.

1. An oblation (1-2)

God calls Moses to give a directive concerning the holocausts. If an Israelite wants to make a oblation, he must bring ether livestock or small livestock according to his social status. It's an expression of thanks toward their God and a vow of consecration for God. Even if the relationship between the offerer and the offerings isn't writen, it seems evident that if the offerer is rich he brings livestock but if he is poor he brings the small livestock, and he is allowed to bring birds like pigeons, as the case of Jesus' family when Mary offers the holocaust of purification. The place is in front of the Encounter's tent, and we offer on the altar. The meaning of holocaust is "completely burnt".

2. The directive of the holocausts (3-17)

There are three categories of animals that we can bring. First, the livestock brought by the offerer must be invested by the hand of the offerer. It's for the expiation. This aspect of the offering also applies for the officers of small livestock and birds: it's to expiate their sins. The offering has this important meaning before God: the aspiration for the divine purety. The head and the grease are offered on the fire, but the entrails must be washed. The offerings must be the males without defect. The consumption of this offering on the altar's fire is a pleasant smell for the Eternal God. When we offer an offering with all our heart driven by God's love, it's a very pleasant perfume for God.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for having given the lamb of God without blemish to save and purify. Help me to bring my offering with a heart worthy of You.

Wednesday, April 5, 2017

Paul speaks about some collaborators who have an immeasurable value before God. There are, inter alia, Phoebe and Prisca.

1. Phoebe and Prisca (1-4)

Phoebe is a deaconess of Cencrea's church. Paul refers Phoebe to The Romans' church because she helped a lot of people. So it's right that it helps her when she needs collaborators in her work. Paul introduces Prisca, whose his name always precedes the name of her husband, and Aquilas as companions for work in Jesus Christ. In Corinth, Paul encountered them and they worked together because they practice the same profession. In Ephesus, Prisca and Aquilas encountered a scholar Jewish man, Apollo, and they invited him at home and taught him Jesus' word. They risked their life to save Paul's life, and they receive praise from all the churches.

2. Paul's other companions for work (5-16)

We find some names of women, inter alia, who made many efforts to the Lord (6,12), it means to prove oneself (10). Also there is Paul's parents (7,11). Without a splendid building, the house of the believers was the church (5,10). Paul has an affective feeling, so he is a human servant (7b, 13). Rufus is the son of Simon of Cyrene, who carried Jesus' cross in place of Jesus on the way of Golgotha.

Prayer: Lord, I want to be a person of value who participates in the Gospel's progress, being ready to risk my life for God.